Take your calligraphy off the page and turn it into a beautiful folded book!
In this five-session project, we’ll create a concertina book that combines calligraphy, photographs, collage, mark-making and personal storytelling. You’ll build expressive layers across the pages, gradually bringing together colour, texture, imagery and words to create a book that feels completely your own.
Work through the original Calligraphy Club sessions in your own time, with five recorded workshops and accompanying worksheets to guide you through each stage.
5 recorded sessions · Worksheets included · Self-paced · One-off purchase · No subscription
What You’ll Learn
Across the five sessions, we’ll take your concertina book from a simple sheet of paper through to a layered and beautifully finished piece.
Session 1 — Constructing the Concertina Base
Create your folded concertina structure with deckled edges and begin thinking about a theme or direction for your book.
Session 2 — Mark Making & Background Layers
Build up expressive backgrounds using colour, mixed media and simple mark-making techniques.
Session 3 — Photographs & Ephemera
Add photographs and collected paper pieces such as maps, tickets, book pages and labels to bring story, memory and interest to your pages.
Session 4 — Calligraphy & Lettering
Introduce calligraphy and hand-drawn lettering, exploring ways for your words to interact with the imagery and layers beneath.
Session 5 — Bringing It All Together
Refine your pages, add covers and finishing touches, and bring all the different elements together into your completed concertina book.
How You’ll Access the Project
Once you’ve purchased Concertina Books, you’ll receive access to a private Google Drive folder containing all five recorded sessions and the accompanying worksheets.
The worksheets are in the Google Drive folder too, so they’re easy to download, print and have beside you while you work.
One payment gives you access to the complete project; there’s no subscription, and you’re not joining the Calligraphy Club.
What You’ll Need
Khadi or watercolour paper · Pencil · Ruler · Rubber · Scissors or craft knife · Cutting mat · Paintbrushes or sponges · Acrylic paint, gouache or coloured inks · Photographs · Collected papers and ephemera · Glue stick or double-sided tape · Calligraphy or lettering tools · Mount board or sturdy card for the covers
You might also like to gather tissue paper, magazine cuttings, fabric scraps, thread, stamps or textured materials to use for mark-making and layering.
Don’t worry about having everything ready at once, as your worksheets include a materials list for each session.
Worksheets Included
Your accompanying worksheets include the session-by-session materials, ideas and guidance to use alongside the recordings. You’ll receive them after purchase, and they’ll also be available in your project folder.
